Blue Coats’ Johnson is happy with what the team accomplished this season

The last time the Delaware Blue Coats battled the Lakeland Magic, they trailed by 22 points at halftime and ultimately would lose 115-107 in their regular season matchup, and on Thursday night in the NBA G League Finals, Delaware again got down early and trailed by 12 at the break. From there, Lakeland would push the lead to as much as 25 points in the third quarter and would capture their first NBA G League title by defeating Delaware 97-78 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida.

Devin Cannady led Lakeland with 22 points, while Rayjon Tucker led the Blue Coats with 20 points. Lakeland held Delaware to 31% from the field, including 20% from three-point range.

“We really struggled just to kind of get anything going,” Blue Coats head coach Conner Johnson said after the game. “I think that’s on us for sure. We could have done a better job in some areas. I think it’s a huge credit to them(Lakeland).”

While the Blue Coats did not win a championship, the 2020-21 season was filled with a lot of great accomplishments for Delaware, including making the playoff for the first time, getting their first playoff victory, and making their first appearance in the G League Finals, so in many ways, this season was a success for Delaware, which Johnson discussed.

“I think to the whole season a positive we take away are we crossed off some firsts for our team that we were hoping to accomplish by making the playoffs, having a playoffs game, and now getting to the Finals,” Johnson said. “I think that the development of these guys kind of from the top and bottom of the roster. It’s something that we really look at and take a lot of pride in.”

Based on the way they were playing in the playoffs, you thought Delaware was built and ready to win a G League title, but in a single-elimination game, you have to be at your best, and the Blue Coats were not at their best on Thursday night.